The 2024 North Zone T20 tournament begins thrillingly with a Super Over win for Barataria Ball Players and an upset victory for Paragon Sports over title-favorites El Socorro Youth Movement (EYM).
Barataria shut the door on Glenora in the Super Over after the latter had fought back to earn a tie in a rain-affected match at Diego Martin on Tuesday.
A day earlier, Paragon upset the odds to chase down 186 with seven balls to spare to deal a blow to EYM’s hopes of winning the treble.
EYM cantered to the North Zone league title, beat UWI Sports to qualify for Premiership II, and took the 40-over title jointly with Santa Cruz Sports in May.
Police Sports dominated North Zone cricket in 2023, winning all three titles on their way to qualifying for Premiership II (North), and then winning the T20 title in 2024.
EYM have their sights set on emulating the Lawmen’s efforts in 2023 but a chastening defeat in the opening game of the 2024 tournament will reframe the enormity of the task before them.
All seemed well in their universe as they piled up 185 for 6 on Monday against Paragon Sports, a team that provided a challenge to them during the league and 40-over competition.
Alex Kassiram (31 off 19 balls) and Kwasi Alfred (46 off 35 balls) kept the innings ticking along before Keon Isaac blasted 42 not out off 16 balls late in the innings.
With Isaac doing his best Chris Gayle imitation, the floodgates opened late for EYM as they got 39 runs off the last three overs.
Clifton Hills (1/29) and Joshua Ramdoo (1/30) were the best bowlers for Paragon.
The North Zone league and joint 40-over champions started their bowling effort well, removing the openers for only 26 with one ball remaining in the fifth over.
That is where Paragon turned the game on its axis.
Led by Iqwe Craig and Ramdoo, Paragon plundered 62 runs off the next 40 balls before the latter fell for 23 off 16 balls.
Craig was joined by a fired-up Franklyn Rouse who wielded the willow like a Viking berserker with an axe.
They blasted 101 runs off the next 44 balls as Paragon galloped to victory with seven balls to spare.
Craig ended on 79 not out off 50 balls while Rouse smacked 69 not out off 27 balls to earn a fantastic win for Paragon.
The pair smashed nine sixes and 14 fours between them, bringing up 110 runs off boundaries.
In total, EYM’s bowlers gave up 144 runs in boundaries, out of the 189 runs they conceded off 113 balls.
In the second game on Tuesday, Glenora stumbled badly in their run-case before forcing a tie and then lost the game in a Super Over to Barataria Ball Players.
Camillo Carimbocas blitzed 78 off 43 balls to help Barataria post 169 for 7 off their 20 overs.
However, a shower during the interval between innings resulted in Glenora chasing a revised total of 138 off 15 overs.
The former North Zone T20 champions were just 11 runs away from victory when top-scorer Mikkel Govia was dismissed for a superlative 51 off 25 balls with seven deliveries remaining.
Barataria threw the ball to Kevis John, who dismissed Andy Alexander (10) and Jesse Roland (0) off the first two balls of the last over.
Richard Sookhram smashed his first legal delivery over the ropes for six before John dismissed him next ball.
Two extras and scrambled singles from Javon Charles and Stefon Bissoon saw Glenora earn a tie off the final ball of the innings.
John ended with 3 for 10 off his only over to save the game for Barataria Ball Players.
His team-mates would ensure that his effort was rewarded in the Super Over.
Fellow bowler Dejorn Charles conceded just two runs and two leg byes while dismissing Leonardo Julien with a slower ball.
Glenora skipper Kenroy Williams was run out off the last ball going for a non-existent second run, as his team set Barataria five for victory.
Dejorn Charles, who launched ten sixes earlier in the match, belted a Govia full-toss over mid-wicket to win the game for Barataria.
Paragon tops Group B with Barataria just behind on net run rate, while Glenora and EYM occupy the bottom two places.
Combine All Stars, the other team in Group B, will open their campaign on Friday against Barataria after sitting out the opening round on a bye.
